Clouds in Eire

FISMA

I have noticed that the clouds in Ireland appear to be lower than in other places in the world.

If you have ever been to the states, the clouds appear higher, even at comparable latitudes.

I was wondering if pilot/aviation types have noticed this too. If so, what do you think the cause of this is? Perhaps, the dew point?

Slan

iPlop

I don't really know but all I know is ,when ever I fly back to Dublin at any time of the year ,the aircraft always ends up in low clouds 5 miles from the coast

xflyer

Yes, they are definitely lower here in Ireland. We're famous for our rather damp climate after all. As for the reasons it presumably is because of our temperate climate influenced by our position on the edge of the North Atlantic. Unlike say, parts of the US midwest which is far from the sea and under the influence of a continental climate.

You would be right that it's something to do with dewpoint simply because when temperature and dewpoint coincide you get cloud. With all the moisture around combined with our relatively low temperatures even in summer that will happen at lower altitudes.

It's also worth remembering that we have relatively low mountains in this country so any orographic lifting is going to happen at much lower altitudes.

I think you might get a better more detailed explanation in the Weather forums of these boards.